Afrique Affair

About a year ago, while applying for a scholarship, I was asked to write about “LEADERSHIP: A personal experience or an aspiration” where I had to describe a specific activity or organization, mine or another’s, in which I had been directly involved as an activist or leader. In 400 words, I had to outline the challenges I had faced, how I had resolved them and what I learnt about myself in the process. I was still a member of the SRC (Student Representative Council) of the University of the Free State (UFS) at the time so the SRC experience seemed most appropriate and relevant to write about. I struggled though, for about a week I could not put my ideas together, the essay required honesty but, most of the information I had to be honest about was still ‘classified’. The major challenge for me was that I could not share everything while still in SRC office and while still at the UFS. I also realized that I had not yet reconciled with the experience and with myself to be able to write about it. So on the very last day, six hours before the deadline, I decided to change my topic and by midnight I submitted the article below. 

After a rigorous selection process I was chosen to represent Africa at the G8 Youth Summit of June 2013 in London. My role in the African Union delegation was that of a Sherpa, to act as a go-between the Head of Government and the five Ministerial portfolios; and between our delegation and other delegations.

A Sherpa has no agenda points, this meant that only my colleagues would write and submit position papers. During the summit, I would realize that I too wanted to take part in the negotiations, I felt left out of the conversations of global change. I would also observe as delegations kept to their respective clusters and how many would give their governments’ existing initiatives as their positions. The summit was a platform for the youth to share their intentions for the world and hold governments accountable. I felt this goal was not being met. I would also observe that many delegates had very limited knowledge about Africa. This was a huge challenge as many delegations found it difficult to comprehend our positions on various topics such as the political climate in African states.  I harboured sentiments of the summit being of little relevance as no government was required to read our communiqué. I felt defeated, that my contribution would not have an impact in the global discourse.

Two days into the summit, I would realize the importance and need for the Sherpa role. I directly supported the Head of Government and my Ministers, and this was not to be taken for granted. We, the AU delegation, then approached other delegations and shared in detail on who Africa is. Delegations such as Japan understood Africa and supported us. A colleague and I approached Italy, China and other delegations and encouraged them to share their own views of the world as opposed to those of their governments. Upon my return, I would realize how limited my knowledge of Africa was. This has inspired me to research, read more and to ask more questions.

The experience has made me appreciate the power that I have as an agent of change. It has shown me that I can inspire and impact change, that I do have it in me to live out my principle of leading by service. I have since resolved to invest myself in Africa and fight the brain-drain that has had a negative impact on Africa’s development.

I could only write so much in the space that I had been awarded. I want to write more about this experience, so as to reconcile with it (having initially wanted to run away) and to also aid reconciliation with myself. Africa’s relationship with the rest of the world has not been an easy one, that very fact results in my having a complex relationship with the rest of the world, a relationship I am yet to understand and define. I find myself asking a lot of questions about these two relationships and I hope that through writing I will find my answers.

“Life is too short to be wasted in finding answers. Enjoy the questions!” – Paulo Coelho

Brain Drain: Do I stay or go back?

Brain drain (in the African context) is a matter very close to my heart. When used, it is often in that context, of Africa losing skills and expertise to other continents. In this blog post, I wish to focus on the loss incurred by African states to other African states. This form of brain-drain has rarely been the subject of discussion as I converse with friends and family. A few days ago, I had one of these conversations with a very close friend. The conversation had been sparked by an article on the South African critical skills list that has been released to the public following the amendment of the state’s immigration act. It seems the government will be making it more difficult for non-nationals to find employment in South Africa, and I believe this would be expected for any government that wants higher employment rates for its citizens.

The article got me questioning what my position was on the loss of skills and expertise by African states to one another. Specifically, it got me questioning what my stance was regarding the loss that Botswana is facing as thousands of its sponsored graduates fail to come back home. Most importantly I asked whether my future plans would exacerbate or curb this disturbing phenomenon. Like any Motswana studying away from home I find myself having to make a choice of whether I will be staying in my adopted country or going back home. For me, the initial plan had been to get my first degree and go back home. But I am still in South Africa, two years after the attainment of that degree, with hopes of working for some of her leading organizations.

The plan, as stated, seems like a very solid one. Many of my friends and family have suggested that I stay here, for better pay and greater opportunities. But, I find myself painfully torn between serving my home country and attaining some of these personal aspirations. As plans changed over the years I decided that I would work here for a few years and eventually go back home. I thought (and still think) that it makes little sense for me to go back home without any experience from some of Africa’s biggest organizations. It would possibly serve my country better were I to first learn from these organizations and impart the knowledge and skills attained upon returning home. Such a plan seems more sensible for it ensures service to my country and the realization of my personal aspirations (whatever these maybe). But, exactly how does one measure ‘a few years’. It does sound fair for one to propose such but before I know it I might just find myself driving kids to school, with a growing family and investments, and without an option of going back home.

I always try to bear in mind that this is a Choice-point that not only I will reach. Thousands of other Batswana students studying abroad will also reach this point and, sadly, many of us are choosing not to go back. These are the very graduates that the economy so desperately needs for growth and job creation for a reduction in youth unemployment. These are minds that organizations need for turnaround strategies. These are hearts needed for initiatives and innovations required for development. Yes, South Africa and the rest of the world are doing great, but how will Botswana get to that stage if I am not willing to create the platform for ‘great’? Who is going to create the opportunities that have got me wanting to stay in South Africa if I am not willing to go back? And, who better to create these opportunities if not the person who has been exposed to them?

I feel like I should want to stay. I feel like I should want to stay just for a little while. But, would I be willing to go back after this little while of possibly starting a family and building a successful career with an income bigger than anything I could be offered at home? And, what would this decision mean for the development of my home country?

Polling station exchanges

Election Day has come and gone, and all will be going back to ‘normal’ soon. All will be going back to citizens hoping and waiting for things to get better while politicians continue with their internal party battles and court cases.

Election Day was just another day of work in my world. Having been declared a national holiday, it only presented an opportunity for me to continue work on my programming assignment without worrying about class. I was still in bed when she got back home; having had been too lazy to get up to work on the assignment. A few minutes later, I was sitting on one of the bean-bags in her room, glad in pyjama pants and a t-shirt, eager to hear all about her experience. My housemate, Robin*, had just cast her very first vote as a South African citizen. She and South Africa’s ‘born free’ generation (who I believe are yet to be born) had just cast a vote for the very first time. That morning, she had left the house unsure of her vote only to have her vote decided by the polling station.

Robin, a third year Fine Art student, is a very well informed young person. Prior to the elections, she had done extensive research on the different parties with a presence in the Western Cape and she had eventually decided to focus her research on the ANC (African National Congress), DA (Democratic Alliance) and AGANG SA. We usually convene in the kitchen to discuss such matters, so on one evening we convened by the kitchen sink and she shared the findings of her research. Varsity, the campus newspaper at UCT (University of Cape Town) had also done a feature on the national elections and she had in hand the pages on which the party manifestos had been printed. Even with all this research she had still been unsure of which party to vote for. As a side thought, I wondered how many of us were (and are) willing to do research on our political parties and leaders so we can make informed decisions.

At this juncture, I must share that I find it rather ‘unsettling’ to have to vote for a party, as is the case in South Africa, instead of voting for an individual, as is the case in Botswana. I believe in being given an opportunity to vote for a competent individual to be my voice in government. Having been awarded this opportunity as Batswana, I find it sad that we continue to vote for parties. Anyway, upon arrival at the polling station Robin presented her Identity document to a member of staff of the IEC (Independent Electoral Commission). This member of staff was a Xhosa speaking lady and she made an error in assuming that Robin was also Xhosa. This is an assumption that had taken deep root here in the Western Cape. Upon presenting her Afrikaans surname and pronouncing her inability to speak Xhosa, Robin was given a sneer for a response and a minor gossip later ensued about just how coloured she was. We could each infer differently about Robin’s case, but she felt discriminated against by a fellow black person for not being 'black enough'. With this, her national vote had been decided. She decided not to vote for the ANC because she believes that after 20 years of democracy we should have bridged the gap between the black and coloured people of South Africa. She believes we are one people. It disturbs her how when speaking of poor people we only mention black people; forgetting about the millions of coloureds who struggle to make ends meet. She cited examples within her home town, Kimberly, where preference is given to black people by the ANC, with better investments being made in black settlements. Her vote was for the DA.

While in the queue to casting her vote, from behind her, a male voice expressed its gladness in having her present at that polling station and how things had really changes now that apartheid was over. It was only at that moment that Robin realised she was the only black person standing in the queue. The other black people present at the polling that morning were the security guards and the IEC staff members. She then expressed her understanding of why she was the only black person on the queue. Gardens, the area we live in, is a very white area, being close to Table Mountain and all. One finds that the closer they get to the mountain the more white the community becomes. It dawned on her that “Capetonian ‘liberals’ are racist and classist”. With that, her provincial vote had been decided. Here vote went to AGANG SA because she wants some change in the Western Cape, a change that will enable all to benefit. This reminded me of an article I had read a week earlier in the The Guardian (UK) about the pronounced social injustices of Cape Town.

I don’t know if I would have voted had I been South African. Had I voted though, it would have been for the DA at national level. I would have voted for the DA because I believe in the potential of the ANC as a party for the people. My vote would have been to serve as a wake-up call for the ANC and to have our party leaders up their game in serving the needs of the people. The ANC has gotten really comfortable in power, even the party leader believes they are invincible with statements such as “ANC will rule till Jesus comes”. It would have been to serve as a reminder to the ANC that they are not our only option, we believe in the ANC but we also have the power to make a different choice should our needs not be catered for. My provincial vote is undecided but I suspect I would have voted either for AGANG SA or for the DA. 

* Not her real name.

The Citizen and Freedom

Exactly a week ago I sat with other African youth in a panel discussion of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund to debunk “the myth that freedom is free”. This took place a day after Freedom Day, April 27^th; an annual celebration of South Africa's first non-racial democratic elections of 1994.

2014 is election year for both South Africa and Botswana; my thoughts were therefore more inclined towards elections and specifically to the role of the citizen during this election period. I believe it is vital that each one of us exercises their right to vote, but voting alone does not count much if it is not followed by effective active citizenry. Voting alone is not enough if after elections citizens do not take initiative to find out where the offices of their representatives are located and continuously communicate their needs and take necessary action to ensure they are met. It is not enough if we do not demand accountability and consultation from the individuals voted to represent us in government.

Many of us have chosen to be subjects in democratic states instead of accepting the responsibilities that come with such a freedom. When will we take initiative to understand the systems of our democratic society? When will we find it necessary to go through our national constitution and actually understand what our rights are? We are making it very impossible to be effectively governed. Ignorance has ceased to be bliss, especially when our democracy and freedom are being threatened by leadership that has lost its moral compass. How many have visited the national assembly, just to see what it looks like? How many have actually sat in a parliamentary/provincial/council session to investigate whether we are truly being represented? We need to be armed with the relevant knowledge and information so that we are in a better position to defend this freedom.

For many it is easier to sit around braai areas or at bars and complain about how things are not going right or about how government officials are squandering tax payers’ money. Before complaining, with the expectation that “they” will come to fix our problems, we need to first consider whether we have actively participated in our democracy. We have remained silent for too long about matters that matter. “They” are “us”. For the educated and those with access to information, your responsibility becomes sharing this knowledge with the uneducated and uninformed. We also need to realize the power that we have in our numbers and leverage on this. Calling a radio station daily to complain will not yield any results, except for being a favorite in the show, but a petition signed by 500 people might yield something.

I found the following while preparing for the panel discussion.

"There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. But Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done."

Freedom is not free. Men and women have lost their lives to ensure we have this freedom. Families have been divided and nations wounded. The onus is now on us to protect this freedom. As we go to the polls soon, let us remember that our role as citizens extends beyond the ballot box. We need to build our power beyond Election Day.